Granulator

Abstract

The invention relates to a granulator having a cutting device which is driven by a drive device and to which a material strand can be supplied, for example by means of a conveying device. The drive device is accommodated in a granulator housing. The cutting device and optionally also the conveying device are arranged in a separate module housing, which is connected in a detachable manner to the granulator housing and can be removed from same. The cutting device and/or the conveying device are connected to the respective drive device via detachable couplings. The cutting device and optionally also the conveying device can be removed from the granulator housing as a unit together with the module housing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A granulator system, comprising:
 a granulator housing comprising a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft; and 
 a module housing encapsulating a cutting device and a conveying device within an interior of the module housing, wherein the cutting device and the conveying device are configured to produce granules of a desired size from a material strand; 
 wherein the module housing comprises a first plug-in coupling and a second plug-in coupling configured to release the module housing from the granulator housing and wherein the first plug-in coupling engages the cutting device with the first drive shaft, and the second plug-in coupling engages the conveying device with the second drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conveying device has a rotationally driven drive wheel and a pressure roller, between which the material strand is transportable. 
     
     
       3. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pressure roller is tensioned against the drive wheel under a spring load. 
     
     
       4. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the spring load on the pressure roller is adjustable. 
     
     
       5. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the drive wheel has a structuring on a peripheral surface. 
     
     
       6. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cutting device has a rotationally driven cutting wheel having a plurality of cutting teeth distributed over a peripheral surface. 
     
     
       7. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the module housing is closable by means of a cover. 
     
     
       8. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cover is disposed on a side of the module housing which is facing away from the first and second plug-in couplings. 
     
     
       9. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first plug-in coupling comprises at least one engaging pin associated with the cutting device and a receptacle associated with the first drive shaft. 
     
     
       10. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second plug-in coupling comprises at least one engaging pin associated with the conveying device and a receptacle associated with the second drive shaft. 
     
     
       11. The granulator system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second plug-in couplings comprises a centering pin and a centering receptacle.